Conditionals: Zero, First, Second and Third

Conditionals

START

What are conditionals in English grammar? Sometimes we call them 'if clauses'. They describe the result of something that might happen (in the present or future) or might have happened but didn't (in the past) . They are made using different English verb tenses.

How to make zero conditional sentences?

To form the zero conditional we use the present tense in both the condition and result part of the sentence. The parts can be arranged with either the condition coming 1st and the result 2nd, or the result coming 1st and the condition 2nd.

The 1st conditional

There is probability and chance, the result is no longer 100% certain. We use the 1st conditional when we believe the condition and result can (and probably will) happen in reality, but they are not 100% certain. It is formed by using the present tense in the condition part of the sentence and most often the future tense with “will” in the result part of the sentence. .

Summary

Zero conditionals happen 100% of the time and 1st conditionals can happen and are usually very likely to happen. - If the temperature drops to zero degrees, it snows (in general). When using the zero conditional, the sentence describes what is generally known to be true all the time asscientific rules. - If the temperature drops to zero degrees, it will snow (here). When using the 1st conditional, the sentence describes something that can really happen in the future of the current situation. There are good chances it can snow but it still might not. .

Some practice (1st conditional)

1. If I see him, I _______________ (give) him a lift.
2. The table will break if you _______________ (sit) on it.
3. If he _______________ (eat) all that, he will be ill.
4. If I find your passport, I _______________ (telephone) you.
5. The police _______________ (arrest) him, if they catch him.
6. If he _______________ (read) in bad light, he will ruin his eyes.
7. Someone _______________ (steal) your car if you leave it unlocked.
8. What will happen if my parachute _______________ (not open)?
9. If he _______________ (wash) my car, I'll give him $10.
10. If she _______________ (need) a radio, she can borrow mine.

The 2nd conditional

We use the 2nd conditional, for unlikely situations that can but probably won’t happen, as well as hypothetical or imaginary situations both in the present and future. It is formed by using “If” and the simple past tense in the condition part of the sentence, followed by “would” and the bare infinitive. Remember that we can rearrange the two parts of the sentence.

Using “I were” instead of “I was” in the 2 nd conditional

Using other modals instead of “would” in the 2nd conditional

Some practice (2nd conditional)

1. If I _______________ (have ) more money, I'd travel more.
2. What would you do if you _______________ (find) a lot of money in the street?
3. A lot of health problems could be prevented if people _______________ (eat) better.
4. If I had her number, I _______________ (phone) her; but I don't have it
5. Our kids would be happier if we _______________ (live) in the country.
6. If you lend me the money, I ____________ (pay) you back before the end of the month.
7. If it didn't rain, I _______________ (walk) to work.
8. I'd get a big tattoo on my back if my parents _______________ (allow) me to do it.
9. I wouldn't drink that milk if I _______________ (be) you.
10. You wouldn't have so many accidents if you _______________ (drive) more carefully.

The 3rd conditional

We make the third conditional by using the past perfect after 'if' and then 'would have' and the past participle in the second part of the sentence: It talks about the past. It's used to describe a situation that didn't happen, and to imagine the result of this situation.

Some practice (2nd conditional)

1. If you had trained more, you _______________ (lose) so easily.
2. We wouldn't have spent all the money if you _______________ (insit) on going to that boutique.
3. If you had told me that you were having problems, I _______________ (help) you.
4. If I _______________ (know) that she was in town, I would have called her.
5. If she had offered a better price for the car, I _______________ (buy) it.
6. There wouldn't have been so many problems if they _______________ (organice) the race a bit better.
7. We _______________ (get) lost if you had asked for directions.
8. We would never have met if you _______________ (introduce) us to each other at that party.
9. If she had embarrassed me in front of all my friends, I _______________ (hate) her for ever.
10. I _______________ (save) her life if I had paid more attention.

Extra practice

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Extra Explanation

Online Exercises